Lyrics:

The Song:

"Everbody's Gotta Learn Sometime" is a new wave song by The Korgis. They released it as a single in 1980, after first appearing on their album Dumb Waiters. (Wiki page)

For the soundtrack for the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Jon Brion put together this cover. At one concert, Beck said the song was director Michel Gondry's idea, he wanted the song in particular in the film.

Brion basically played all the instruments, and got Beck to sing on it. Beck's done a few things with Jon over the years, mostly in a live setting. The only other track they've done together (that's been released, anyway) at this point is "Your Cheatin' Heart."

Despite being a cover, the song has been one that Beck enjoys to play in concert fairly regularly, even for many years after he released it.

Live:

Played live 98 times:
Earliest known live version: March 31, 2004
Latest known live version: May 12, 2024

mostly acoustic versions 2004-2006

Beck debuted this song at a "surprise" appearance at a benefit concert in LA. It took place two weeks after the film came out, and was played solo acoustically. It was much shorter than the record, but that's because Beck stops after the second verse/chorus. It's pretty strong, not quite as laidback as the record. Beck sings with a little more force.

Beck also played this song at the Eternal Sunshine DVD Release Party in September 2004. His band included Jon Brion, and the film's director, Michel Gondry.

Beck played the song a lot through 2005, always as part of his acoustic set. It's possible the band backed him a little with their dinner table percussion sometimes. Also some of the acoustic shows at the end of 2006 had light drums and percussion (September 22), but not the dinner table thing.

Band versions - 2008/2009

In 2008, Beck took his new band out to promote Modern Guilt. They took to playing a band version of "Everybody" occasionally (only 11 times though). This is a great arrangement, infusing the song with a beat and a bit of drama--much like live "Broken Drum"s. Beck adds some electric guitar, and it's always great to hear him solo in his way. (I do believe some of the 11 times may have been acoustic, but at least half were band.)

pre-Morning Phase - 2012/2013

In the couple of years before touring behind Morning Phase, Beck did some short, sporadic touring. He played the song once in 2012 (down in Australia), and then a handful of times in 2013. The 2013 appearances were usually in more "acoustic" based shows, though a couple were in acoustic sets at a festival.

post-Morning Phase - 2015/2016

Beck did not play the song during his Morning Phase tours of 2014. But the song did return at a very small acoustic show in London in 2015, and then at his two shows in Japan and Korea in 2016. (He always seems to play it when he's in Japan!)

The song is never far from Beck's set, even today, over a decade after he released it.